I remember looking back on post-2010 WC predictions in about 2015 and seeing how wrong they were. After 2010 we thought players like Vidosic and Valeri would be key players for us, while players who were key to 2014 included Leckie (still with Adelaide) and Ryan (yet to debut for CCM). Anyway...

Under Popa, there’s a 1000% chance, baring injury, that our starting midfield will be Irvine and O’Neill. Popa doesn’t care one bit about midfield attack. As a former CB he thinks their entire job is to protect the backline.

Ben Robert’s-Smith arrested for murder. What’s taken so long.

This might be a better place for it: Arnie makes it into the WC with Iraq getting a 2-1 win over Bolivia. Well done Arnie.

Arnie’s Iraq makes it into the World Cup with a 2-1 win over Bolivia, for the first time in 40 years. I’m off to have a shower, I feel dirty having cheered for Iraq. Edit: saw spider on the pitch too, didn’t know he was their goalkeeping coach.

Q. What do you call an Italian watching the WC? A. A neutral Q. How do you make an Italian miss a penalty? A. Make him take one “Football is a simple game, 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, Italy doesn’t qualify.” (S.Hill, probably). (Feel free to add your own).

Warms my heart immensely to see Italy flunk out again. FORZA BOSNIA ED HERZEGOVINA!! What’s that, three World Cups and counting?

Continuing the tradition of terrible Away kits we’ve had over recent iterations. The green had a strong bluish tinge, which combined with the orange made it look like a Dutch kit. A little less aqua green and replace the orange with gold and they might been onto something.

I thought it looked pretty decent tonight. I think I’d be okay with the away jersey if it was some form of gold instead of orange (sorry, ochre).

Unfortunately Holman is exactly who Metcalfe reminds me of. Has all the tools but missing the end product. I haven’t seen the interviews, but he seems too wasteful to be in the centre of the park to me, I’d rather Yazbek. We even looked to have more control with Okon in there.

Surely he’s ahead of Degenek and Geria

We’re so toothless up front … BUT - if Italiano plays like that we won’t miss Miller. I think Yazbek is really good. Herrington is a stud (will surely do his ACL between now and June). I don’t understand what Metcalfe actually brings to the team. There’s someone better at every position.

He was passing to Hrustic

I think O’Neill has started more games than anyone under Poppa. He’s locked on to start three games in the US unless he’s injured. Poppa doesn’t want creativity from his midfielders, he wants defensive destroyers.

Geria, Mabil, Hrustic, Okon, Boyle. I’ll keep telling myself this is just a friendly.

Jeez they like the cheap shots

Playing in the wrong stadium, should be at Moore Park. Glad to see Herrington, let’s see what Metcalfe can do in midfield and Juric as striker.

The guys been here for 10 months and made a final at the first time of asking, holding a team averaging about 5 goals a game to 1. He’s going nowhere.

Lol what?? The player who scored tonight was the person she was meant to be marking! She cost us the game by giving her way too much space! She gets moved from Centre Back and still finds a way to ship goals. MVP for Japan perhaps.

Japan’s defense was very good tonight.